Region 12 indigenous products now on show in Makati City

COTABATO CITY --- The local business community is optimistic the indigenous products from Region 12 now on display at the One Town One Product (OTOP) Store in Makati City will entice traders in Metro Manila to help local producers sell their merchandise abroad.Region 12’s farm products, home decors and wearable goods from different towns, dubbed Treasures of Region 12,” are on display at the OTOP Store until end of May.The showcase includes furniture, processed aquamarine products, the T’nalak fabric from T'boli communities and preserved foods made of organic farm plants.Pete Marquez, a senior member of different business groups in Cotabato City, said he is certain Region 12’s featured products will help convince investors to pour in capital inputs into local community-level indigenous industries. It’s a good chance for our products to shine and attract consumers and buyers in Metro Manila,” Marquez said.In a press statement Friday, the office of the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 12, which facilitated the display of local products at the OTOP Store, said the month-long display of processed food and dry goods from local suppliers is a big marketing stride” that would benefit producers in Central Mindanao.Ibrahim Guimadel, regional director of DTI-12, said the products now being showcased at the OTOP Store were grouped as Treasures of Region 12” owing to their originality and the unique ethnicity in each of the towns where they have come from.Region 12 covers the Central Mindanao provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani and the cities of Kidapawan, Tacurong, Gen. Santos, Koronadal and Cotabato. Institutional buyers looking for new product lines will find many interesting items for wholesale and retail trade at the OTOP Store,” the DTI-12’s press statement said.Bai Sandra Siang, president of a big group of Muslim traders in Cotabato City, said the one town, one product trading promotion thrust of DTI is an appropriate approach in improving the economy in towns and cities in Region 12 by strengthening local industries via marketing support. We are thankful to the DTI-12 for helping regional producers have this opportunity to display their products at the OTOP Store. It is a very good marketing strategy,” Siang said.Siang said the participation of Region 12 in the month-long display of products by regions, from across the country, is a big boost to efforts of introducing to people in Metro Manila the high-quality merchandise local folks can sell to them.